Discovered by C. A. Wirtanen MPC designation 1600 Vyssotsky Minor planet category main-belt · Hungaria Absolute magnitude 11.9 Discoverer Carl A. Wirtanen Asteroid group Asteroid belt | Discovery date 22 October 1947 Alternative names 1947 UC Discovered 22 October 1947 Orbits Sun Discovery site Lick Observatory | |
Named after Alexander Vyssotsky
(astronomer) Similar Carl A Wirtanen discoveries, Other celestial objects | ||
1600 Vyssotsky, provisional designation 1947 UC, is a rare-type Hungaria asteroid and suspected interloper from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 7 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 22 October 1947, by American astronomer Carl Wirtanen at Lick Observatory in California, United States.
Vyssotsky is a rare A-type asteroid. Based on its orbital characteristics, it is member of the Hungaria family, that form the last, innermost dense concentration of asteroids in the Solar System. However, due to its rare type, it is a suspected interloper, as Hungarias typically show a different E-type spectra. It orbits the Sun at a distance of 1.8–1.9 AU once every 2 years and 6 months (918 days). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.04 and an inclination of 21° with respect to the ecliptic. Vyssotsky's observation arc begins with its official discovery observation, as no precoveries were taken, and no prior identifications were made.
Between 1999 and 2014, several rotational light-curves of Vyssotsky were obtained by American astronomer Brian D. Warner at his Palmer Divide Observatory, Colorado (see video in § External links). Light-curve analysis gave a concurring rotation period of 3.201 hours with an averaged brightness variation of 0.18 magnitude (U=2/3/3/3/3/3).
Additional well-defined light-curves were obtained by astronomers Domenico Licchelli in November 2005 (U=3-), Raymond Poncy, Raoul Behrend, René Roy, Reiner Stoss, Jaime Nomen, Salvador Sanchez also in November 2005 (U=3), David Higgins in May 2007 (U=3), Michael Lucas in November 2010 (U=2+), as well as by Hiromi Hamanowa and Hiroko Hamanowa also in November 2010 (U=3). The most recent photometric observation was made by Robert D. Stephens in September 2015, giving a period of 3.204 hours with an amplitude of 0.24 magnitude (U=3). In spite of its many observations, Vyssotsky's spin axis and spin direction can not be determined with certainty.
According to the surveys carried out by the Japanese Akari satellite, and NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer with its subsequent NEOWISE mission, Vyssotsky measures between 6.29 and 7.50 kilometers in diameter and its surface has an albedo between 0.321 and 0.547. The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes an albedo of 0.3 and calculates a diameter of 7.00 kilometers based on an absolute magnitude of 12.7.
This minor planet was named in honor of Russian–American astronomer Alexander Vyssotsky (1888–1973), who joined the faculty of the University of Virginia in 1923 and stayed at the McCormick Observatory on Mount Jefferson, Virginia, for 35 years. He was active in the fields of photometry, astrometry and spectral classification. Naming citation was published before November 1977 (M.P.C. 3931).